Photo (from left to right): Betsy Collins, vice president of development, the Peabody Companies; Greg Spier, Chairman, Foxborough Housing Authority; Paige Duncan, Town Administrator, Town of Foxborough; Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll; Michael Mattos, president/executive director, Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc.; Melissa Fish-Crane, CEO and principal, the Peabody Companies; Chanda Smart, CEO, Onyx Development Group; Ed Augustus, Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities; Barnett Ovrut, Chairman, Foxborough Zoning Board of Appeals; Dan Rivera, President and CEO, MassDevelopment
Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll and Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus were among the state and local officials at a December 14th funding announcement held at the site of an affordable senior rental housing project planned in Foxborough on property owned by the Foxborough Housing Authority.
The 200-unit project on a 16-acre parcel at the corner of Walnut Street and Route 140 is under development by the Walnut Street Joint Venture, a team comprised of Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc. (AHSC), Peabody Properties, and Onyx Group Development.
The phased 40B affordable housing project will encompass 141 rental units in Phase One and an additional 59 rental units in Phase Two. Each phase will provide a broad range of affordability from 30% up to 80% of the Area Median Income.
The funding announcement comes following the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s recent unveiling of a $4 billion plan to boost the production of affordable homes across the state. The Affordable Homes Act proposes a comprehensive funding strategy to increase the supply of housing, rehabilitate and modernize public housing, and support affordable housing opportunities. The legislation also recommends initiatives to address fair housing and equity concerns.
“Peabody Properties is very appreciative of the Healy Administration’s support of this important project,” said Melissa Fish-Crane, principal and CEO of Peabody Properties. “We look forward to seeing it realized soon.”
“This new community will provide greatly needed affordable housing for seniors,” added Michael Mattos, president and executive director of Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative. “Our forward-thinking partners in Foxborough have been amazing to work with and have been instrumental in us getting to this point – we’re excited to see this effort move forward.”
In October of 2022 the Town of Foxborough secured $4 million in Infrastructure grant funds from Mass Works and an additional $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) to finance installation of a traffic signal at the Walnut Street/Commercial Street intersection. The grant additionally funds the extension of a sewer line along Walnut Street and across Route 140 to serve the affordable housing site.
Construction is anticipated to commence in March.
About Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc. (AHSC)
Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc. (AHSC; www.ahscinc.org) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2001 to develop affordable housing, as well as to promote and enhance the quality of life for residents of affordable housing. AHSC works with its strategic partners to establish a leadership role in the preservation and creation of affordable rental communities.
For the past 20-plus years, AHSC has been involved in many complex affordable housing developments involving new construction, historic adaptive reuse, and occupied rehabilitation. Throughout its history, the organization has been involved with 30 projects, which have helped to keep over 2,500 units affordable, as well as helped create 179 new supportive housing units within four communities for formerly homeless veterans.
Affordable Housing and Services Collaborative, Inc. is located at 536 Granite Street, Third Floor, Braintree, MA 02184. For more information, please call 781-794-1095 or visit www.ahscinc.org.
About The Peabody Companies
Headquartered at 536 Granite Street, Braintree, Massachusetts, The Peabody Companies and its affiliates – Peabody Properties, Peabody Resident Services, Peabody Supportive Housing, Peabody Real Estate, and Peabody Miami – represent a legacy of excellence in the real estate sector. Founded in 1976 and led by Karen Fish-Will and Melissa Fish-Crane, this full-service, award-winning real estate firm is an Accredited Management Organization (AMO) that oversees more than 14,650 housing units across New England, with additional properties in New Jersey and Florida.
Peabody Properties, a cornerstone of the group, specializes in property management, demonstrating a remarkable blend of quality service and expertise. Peabody Resident Services, a unique arm of the company, underscores a deep commitment to enhancing resident experiences by focusing exclusively on developing supportive services and programs for affordable housing communities.
As a Women Business Enterprise (WBE), certified by the Massachusetts State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance (SOMWBA), The Peabody Companies has been recognized for its dedication to diversity and inclusion. This commitment is further evidenced by their ranking on the 2023 National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA) Affordable 100 List and their repeated recognition as a Top Place to Work by The Boston Globe in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023.
Discover more about The Peabody Companies’ impactful real estate journey and community-driven initiatives at http://www.wearepeabody.com. Connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to stay updated on our latest projects and achievements.
ABOUT ONYXGROUP Development, LLC
ONYXGROUP is a Massachusetts based Black woman owned, People focused, Forward thinking, Culturally Competent & Inclusive Development company with a mission to build quality affordable housing while providing intentional specialized focus on equity and inclusion of local residents. To learn more, please visit www.onyxbos.com.
